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 System i Navigator
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System i Navigator is a rich user interface with highly integrated function that enables you to manage your System i servers. Now, to be honest, there is a cost for that additional ease of use. It's just a fact that rendering a graph or computing averages before data is shown takes time. The good news is that there are actions you can take to improve the performance of System i Navigator. The following tips and techniques are ways you can tune System i Navigator for your work environment.
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| Tuning Your PC |
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Memory
Keep in mind that every PC application you run on your PC takes both space in memory (RAM) and time to load into memory. If there are long pauses during the running of System i Navigator on your PC and it seems particularly sluggish, it might be helpful to add some extra memory (RAM) to the PC. If you have more programs running on your system than actually fit in physical memory, the Windows operating system copies some of the programs you are running to the hard disk. Later, when those programs are needed, Windows copies them back to memory and uses them. This process, called swapping, takes a significant amount of time and makes your programs run slower. If your PC is swapping, installing more memory will make programs run fast because Windows won't need to swap to the hard disk.
Disk Defragmenting
Disk fragmentation occurs over time as existing files are deleted and new files are added. This slows disk access and degrades the overall performance of disk operations. To address this problem, defragment your disk on a regular basis using a disk defragmenting utility.
Meet or Exceed PC Recommendations for System i Navigator
Exceed PC size recommendations provided by System i Access for Windows, especially for memory:
- Use at least a 850 mHz CPU, 256 MB memory; 512 MB memory or more is suggested
- Verify that your PC also has at least 300 MB of free hard drive space when System i Navigator is running.
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| Tuning System i Navigator |
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Filtering Large Lists
Use include/filtering where possible to subset a large list, especially in the File Systems folder. In V5R2, Include was added to many folders in System i Navigator, letting you decide what items to include before the list is retrieved.
- To use include filtering select a folder from the navigation pane, open the 'View' menu, then select 'Customize this View' and 'Include'. Enter the include criteria and click 'OK'.
- To use include selection criteria before the full list is retrieved, right click on a folder in the navigation pane to open a context menu. Select 'Customize this View' and 'Include'.
The Include dialog will appear where you can define how you want the list to be filtered.
- Include allows you to select just the data you want to see in the list. The criterion varies depending on the type of object. Include settings are persistent and will remain in effect until you change them. To use include filtering click on 'View' in the menu bar, then 'Customize this View' and 'Include'. Enter the include criteria.
- The Include option on the Integrated File System folder allows you to enter file selection criteria to control the contents of the list. To use include/filtering in the Integrated File System: Right click on the desired folder in the IFS. Select Include from the context menu.
Taskpads
The taskpad was designed to help new users find tasks without having to "hunt and peck" around using context menus. However, there is a performance cost to the taskpad. The taskpad is built every time the user clicks on a folder, and it takes quite a bit of resources. If you do not normally use the items shown in the Taskpad we recommend turning it off. To turn the Taskpad off select the 'View' menu, then deselect (uncheck) 'Taskpad'.
Another option is that in V5R2, you can add your most frequently used tasks to a customized list called 'My Tasks'. To improve performance, you can display only the 'My Tasks' area so you do not have to show the entire Taskpad area. To display only the 'My Tasks' area: Another option is that in V5R2, you can add your most frequently used tasks to a customized list called 'My Tasks'. To improve performance, you can display only the 'My Tasks' area so you do not have to show the entire Taskpad area. To display only the 'My Tasks' area:
- Select 'Customize Taskpad�' from the 'View' menu
- Select the View tab
- Click the 'Display My Tasks only' checkbox
Shortcuts
Shortcuts are very nice for getting to the content you want. You can create a shortcut on your desktop to whatever is shown in the right of System i Navigator. Using this feature, you might create several shortcuts that will quickly get you to the views that you most commonly work with. However, be aware that every time you activate a shortcut, a separate instance of System i Navigator is opened. Each instance uses a significant amount of memory on your PC, so if your PC has limited memory, only keep open the views that you really need at that time, otherwise you may experience slow response times.
Logical Partions
Using "My Connections->Sys1->Configuration & Service->Logical Partitions" is quite a bit faster than using "Management Central->Systems with Partitions->Sys1". The only benefit for the Management Central path is that System i Navigator will automatically create a Management Central system group which contains the i5/OS partitions on the system. For this value add, you take a large performance hit and is dependent on the central system to be running so that you can LPAR your system.
Window Behaviors
If you are waiting for a window to appear, it could be that it's actually been displayed, but it's displayed behind another window. Here are some ways to find that hidden window:
- Select ALT-ESC to toggle between all open windows. The hidden window will appear eventually.
- Select ALT-TAB to see a list of all open applications on your PC. From that list you can select System i Navigator, and the hidden window should appear on top.
- Minimize or close other windows until the desired window is displayed.
Multiple Sessions
It is not recommended that you open multiple sessions of System i Navigator (this includes multiple shortcut windows and multiple "Open" actions from containers in System i Navigator).
Caching
Performance improves during the course of a session. More caching is done and more functions are loaded in memory, and since System i Navigator uses Java technology and the Java runtime is loaded the when System i Navigator is initially brought up, the longer you keep System i Navigator running, the faster it becomes.
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| Tuning your System i |
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Use Prestart Jobs
Prestart jobs increase performance by running before the program on a remote system that needs them communicates with the server. Prestart jobs can be started manually, or automatically within a subsystem. Please see Use of Prestart Jobs in the IBM i Information Center.
For more System i performance tuning information please see Performance Management for System i
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| Related Information |
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 System i Navigator Artlicles
System i Navigator Redbooks
 System i Information Center |
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